Two heads are definitely better than one in West New York, as the local police department recently teamed up with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office to crack down on a recent rash of robberies and burglaries.
Last Tuesday, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio announced the arrest of 19 adults and three juveniles for crimes ranging from robbery to narcotics violations in West New York.
“It was a successful partnership with the West New York Police Department,” said DeFazio. “We will continue joint operations in the future.”
The West New York Police worked with members of the prosecutor’s office municipal task force over a two-week period to make the 22 arrests between July 17 through 27.
The joint investigation was launched due to the recent increase of automobile burglaries and thefts in North Hudson.
“Director Oscar Fernandez was concerned about the number of burglaries and related offenses,” said DeFazio. “He spoke to our office and we agreed to institute this joint operation, which was very successful.”
“I am happy to know that we have a prosecutor with the kind of vision to build a unit as unique as the Municipal Task Force,” said West New York Police Director Oscar Fernandez. “After personally working with the members of this force I am confident that this is the kind of teamwork that can have a positive effect on crime throughout this county.”
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Municipal Task Force was established several years ago to assist municipalities within the county in investigations of illegal drug trafficking, burglaries, robberies, and illegal weapons offenses.
Crimes in progress
According to information released by the office of the prosecutor, the task force and detectives from West New York began surveillance in July with plainclothes officers in identified “problematic zones,” and immediately observed criminal activities in progress.
A majority of items stolen during the investigation were from automobile burglaries. Stolen items such as portable navigation units, portable satellite radios and cellular telephones had been left in plain view.
“There are too many instances of cars being broken into,” said DeFazio. “People have to be very circumspect about what they leave in their cars,” he said. “Under no circumstances should valuables be left in plain view in automobiles because it really does present an attractive target for burglars.”
Police officials remind car owners and residents to remove or completely hide these expensive devices when parking their vehicles. Police also say removing the device and leaving the windshield mounting bracket is just as bad, as it gives thieves clear sign that the device is close-by in the vehicle.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, on July 19, police say they observed Danny Goldworthy, 27, allegedly enter a parked car in the area of 51st Street and Bergenline Avenue. He allegedly removed a portable GPS device valued in excess of $200, and was charged with burglary and theft of movable property.
That same evening, detectives said they observed Jonathan Fabiandeaza, 19, and Yefreey Decarlois, 19, along with three juveniles “acting suspiciously” as they walked around the area of 49th Street and Bergenline Avenue.
The group was seen allegedly assaulting a victim and attempting to take a cellular phone. All five were apprehended at the scene and were charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. One of those individuals allegedly confessed that their reason for walking along Bergenline Avenue was to commit robberies.
Police also reported that Juan Fuentes, 20, and Edwin Betancourt, 22, were observed allegedly snorting what appeared to be cocaine in the area of 62nd Street and Palisade Avenue. Detectives seized a small quantity of the suspected cocaine during their apprehension.
Fuentes and Betancourt were each charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and hindering their own apprehension /prosecution, after allegedly giving false names to the police. Fuentes and Betancourt also each had an outstanding warrant for their arrests.
More arrests
On July 20, Lazaro F. Marquez, 46, was observed by police allegedly entering the store Botanica Olorun, located on 64th Street. Police say he allegedly broke a hole in the glass with a rock. Police immediately arrested him after he exited, allegedly holding a plastic bag containing loose change and a religious statue. He also had money hanging out of his pocket, police said. All the items were allegedly taken from the store.
Marquez was charged with burglary and theft of moveable property. He also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
On July 26, the West New York Police Department received a call warning of a motor vehicle burglary in progress in the area of 62nd Street and Bergenline Avenue. The caller was able to provide a description of the five people involved and their getaway car.
Police located the individuals in the car and apprehended all five in North Bergen.
Police arrested Juan Diaz, 21, Eric Ortiz, 26, Davian Aviles, 28, and Mario Basanta 22. They were all charged with burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.
Working together
The prosecutor’s office has worked with the West New York police on similar cases in the past.
“We have to commend the West New York Police Department for taking the initiative to address these issues and not ignore them,” said DeFazio.
According to DeFazio, some of the individuals recently arrested had followed a similar robbery pattern of targeting illegal immigrants, which was becoming a growing concern in West New York a few years ago.
“Two gentlemen were arrested for a strong armed robbery of a person that got off one of the commuter vans,” said DeFazio. “[They seem to target] young men or men that appear to be vulnerable due to their status, so that’s a problem we have seen in North Hudson.”
Among those arrested were a number of individuals known to law enforcement.
“There was a recovery of some of the items stolen, but most apparently were not recovered,” said DeFazio. “Some of those arrested were previously known to law enforcement.”
Since the multiple arrests in July, West New York has already seen a reduction in these types of crimes.
“I just had a meeting yesterday [in West New York],” DeFazio said last Wednesday. “There has been a marked reduction in the number of burglaries reported to the West New York Police Department, so [the operation] has been a deterrent since the end of July.”
“We stand ready to return to West New York,” he added.
As of last Wednesday, some of the individuals arrested were still being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny. Others were released on bail. The status of the juveniles arrested was not known at the time.
Burglary charges can carry a sentence of up to five years, and robbery charges can carry a sentence of up to 10 years. The distinction between the two charges is use of force.
In a robbery, the suspect uses force and violence on an individual, while burglary involves breaking into a structure or a car. Jessica Rosero can be reached at jrosero@hudsonreporter.com Side bar Police arrest 18 adults and three juveniles
Below is the list of 18 adults arrested by law enforcement officials from the Hudson County prosecutor’s office. The identities of three additional individuals involved were withheld because they are under the age of 18. All charges against them are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
1. Charles R. Meyer, Age 23
North Bergen
Charges: Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Ecstasy, Obstructing the Administration of Law, and Resisting Arrest.
2. Darryl Sebecke, Age 22
Moonachie
Charges: Possession of Marijuana.
3. Phillip Malia, Age 56
Moonachie
Charges: Hindering Apprehension.
4. Gasper Mulero, Age 26
North Bergen
Charges: Burglary and Theft of Moveable Property.
5. Justin Forlorn, Age 24
North Bergen
Charges: Attempted Burglary (four counts).
6. Kaleek DeJorge, Age 33
West New York
Wanted on an outstanding warrant.
7. Eric Ortiz, Age 26
Orlando, Florida
Charges: Burglary and Conspiracy to Commit Burglary.
8. Davian Aviles, Age 28
Maywood
Charges: Burglary and Conspiracy to Commit Burglary.
9. Mario Basanta, Age 22
West New York
Charges: Burglary and Conspiracy to Commit Burglary.
10. Juan Diaz, Age 21
West New York
Charges: Burglary, Theft of Moveable Property, and Conspiracy to Commit Burglary.
11. Jonathan Fabiandeaza, Age 19
West New York
Charges: Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
12. Yefreey Decarlois, Age 19
West New York
Charges: Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
13. Danny Goldworthy, Age 27
Union City
Charges: Burglary and Theft of Moveable Property.
14. Juan Fuentes, Age 20
Charges: Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and Hindering Apprehension/Prosecution.
15. Edwin Betancourt, Age 22
West New York
Charges: Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and Hindering Apprehension/Prosecution.
16. Lazaro F. Marquez, Age 46
West New York
Charges: Burglary and Theft of Moveable property.
17. Alfred Samon, Age 37
West New York
Charges: Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe or Needle. Wanted on an outstanding warrant.
18. Steve Arias, Age 22
West New York
Wanted on an outstanding warrant.